Microsoft promises Metro developers 'fame and fortune'

With the official launch of Windows 8 just a few months away, Microsoft has kicked off a new incentive program that promises developers "fame and fortune" if they build Metro-style apps for the new OS.

The program, hosted on Microsoft's Generation App website, follows on from an earlier, similar initiative for Windows Phone. Dubbed "30 to Launch", it claims it can equip developers to build a finished Metro-style app for Windows 8 in just 30 days.

"That's what Generation App is all about – shepherding applications for Windows 8 and Windows Phone from the initial inspiration, through development, to a place where they bring their creators the fame and fortune they deserve," the program's website says.

International developers will have to forego both fortune and fame, however; the program is only open to legal residents of the US aged 18 and up.

What's more, interested developers should move quickly, because Microsoft isn't exactly bending over backwards to help out. The program is limited to a total of 250 design consultations and 500 technical review consultations per month, and each participating developer is limited to one consultation of each kind.

Participating developers are encouraged to contact El Reg when their promised rewards arrive. Given the largely negative reaction to Metro so far, your humble correspondent suspects that "fame" and "fortune" may be relative terms. ®